Crafting is fun for all ages and interests. This blog evolved from researching resources for friends and articles I write as a freelance writer. It is a place to share the information I discovered. Please feel free to leave comments and questions. I am always looking at new projects ideas for family and friends in areas of my own abilities and theirs.
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Monday, May 20, 2013

There are so many amazingly generous designers out there. I already discussed using Lucy Ravenscar's free monkey pattern. This is her free lion pattern that I added to my jungle. You can find the free pattern here. I just recently finished her frog and I will be adding him to the blog soon, too.

As I mentioned with the monkey in order to get the pattern to work right don't join, work in spirals. I was trying to play with joining to make the colors changes easier and it complicated the structure of the lion. I have another lion and lioness pattern that came in the Crochet a Zoo: Fun Toys for Baby and You that I may experiment with if I have time.

The jungle is coming along nicely. When this project is complete, I am going to have to split my time between Halloween, Christmas presents, and Christmas charity toys. That stuff creeps up so quickly.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Friday, May 17, 2013

If you have been following my blog than you can probably guess that the alligator is part of my Jungle Mat project. I have always been terrified of alligators and crocodiles since my brothers convinced me our very cold brook was full of them and they would creep into the house at night and eat me if I wasn't wary. True love wins and I couldn't make a jungle set without an alligator. While this pattern was not in the original free Joann's pattern, I did find it in A Zoo For You (Leisure Arts #5152) that I have used for several of the other animals in this project.

He was the most challenging of the animals to date, as I had to get his scales on correctly. Even with that challenge, he worked up quickly and despite my dislike of the creatures, he is a great addition to the project.

I got tired of waiting for a library copy to preview and took a chance and ordered Crochet a Zoo: Fun Toys for Baby and You online. It arrived yesterday and I can't wait to try out the baboons and the rangers. (Technically, they are zookeepers, but I am making a jungle, so they will be rangers.) I will post about my results.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Thursday, May 16, 2013

About the time, I started this project, one of my favorite ami designers Lucy Ravenscar started posting some free mini patterns she had made for a school fair. I immediately downloaded the patterns and decided some would be perfect for my project. You can find the free monkey pattern here. I had a slight problem with the ear because I joined to help with the color changes instead of spiraling. I suggest spiraling as it can affect the ear placement since they are not sewn on but crocheted as part of the pattern.

This is a cute, quick, free addition to the jungle project.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Somehow as I was working on the jeep it got this nickname and it stuck. Each of the animals had cute names that I want to get written down and send with the gift, but the only one that really stuck with me was Beep Beep Jeep. It must be the Dr. Seuss sounding name.

I always struggle with making cars. There are so many pieces to sew together and the wheels and the headlights always seem to be the most challenging for me to assemble. However, I do think the jeep was worth the effort. Every jungle explorer needs a way to get around.

This is part of the free Jungle Play Mat set from Joann's I have been writing about for several days now. You can find the pattern here.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

What is a jungle play set without a rhinoceros? I'm continuing to post about my jungle play mat birthday project. After finishing with the hippo I moved on to the rhino pattern found in A Zoo For You (Leisure Arts #5152) a book you have heard about several times now if you've been following this jungle mat story.

I am really enjoying how quickly I can make these animals. Even the rhino horns were not that challenging to make and attach to his head. As my mailing deadline approaches, my jungle is quickly filling with animals.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Monday, May 13, 2013

Along with the free pattern from Joann's I also used several of the animal patterns found in A Zoo For You (Leisure Arts #5152) that I purchased a while back. The patterns work up quickly and the animals are a good size for this project.

One thing I've come to appreciate about the projects in this book is they work up quickly and the sew together fairly easily while still looking cute. Since I have several to make, those qualities are important.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Friday, May 10, 2013

After finishing the jungle mat I wrote about yesterday, I decided I better tackle one of the larger pieces and get it off my to do list. The rowboat had multiple pieces and I am not a huge fan of sewing together lots of pieces. In order to avoid frustration, I alternated working on the boat with the thread dress, and some of the animals. You can find the link for the mat and the row boat here.

One change I will make if I make this again is to limit the stuffing. It needs some, but not much. Mine could use a boat reduction program. It made sewing it together a bit more challenging. The pattern does not call for oar locks. I just added chains and sewed them on to help keep the oars from being separated and lost from the boat. The oars can be removed, but with the oar locks are less likely to be misplaced.

I finally finished the hut, but still have trees and more animals to complete. I will add the items I have already finished to the blog, soon.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Thursday, May 9, 2013

I love belonging to online crochet groups because they provide great support and leads. Recently a woman posted a request for help in finding a free pattern for a jungle set offered by Joann. I was intrigued, as I love toy sets. Someone kindly posted the link and I downloaded the pattern. I found the pattern here.

I altered the pattern slightly. I wanted a larger road so I changed the road. I love this pattern because it could easily be adapted to other themes. The first link includes the free pattern for the mat, huts, trees, rowboat, and a jeep. You have to go further into the site to find the animals. Some of the animals are knitted and some crocheted. I have been adding to the animals using some free patterns and using A Zoo For You (Leisure Arts #5152) that I bought a while back and had not had the chance to use.

I will be posting more pictures of the project. I have most of it completed. I am currently working on the hut. I still have to make the trees and hopefully a few more animals. This present is for a June birthday so I still have time. Then I have to get serious about my Christmas donations so I will have time to make my Halloween box projects.

If you arrived here looking for free patterns you may be interested in the following blog pages:

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

I started this project for a May birthday present and finally finished it. This is a second pattern found in Maggie Weldon's 18" Doll Hippy Wardrobe Pattern that I have finished.

I love the skirt on this dress. I haven't done much work in thread, but this is beautiful. I tried the sleeves, but preferred the dress without the additional sleeves. The two hippy outfits will be shipping soon as I have to get the May birthday box out soon. I still have another thread dress I started that I need to finish for my Christmas donation. However, right now I am still working on my jungle project that I will be posting about soon.

Barbie and American Girl Doll Free Patterns are listed on my blog at these locations: